7th Battalion Rangers was carrying out Operation Gonzales around Jalong, Perak on the 8th April 1974 until 1st may 1974. This operation was a search and destroy operation. On the 21st April 1974 at around 1100 hrs (11.00 o'clock am) two soldiers were fired upon by the Enemy who were three to four strong. The soldiers immediately took cover and returned bursts of fire. There was an intense exchange of fire. The two soldiers who tried their utmost to kill the enemy were unsuccessful. The Enemy managed to successfully conduct a fighting withdrawal. Visibility was restricted due to the thick foliage and undergrowth. They did not have a clear shot at the Enemy. Charlie Company was quickly deployed to act as cut offs. On the same day at around 1700 hrs (5 o'clock pm) whilst No 7 Platoon was conducting a fighting patrol, came across a sign, an arrow made of bamboo, this arrow was embedded in the earth. With this finding No.7 platoon decided to conduct an ambush in that particular area, they set up the killing area with 4 Claymore mines. This was reinforced with two light machine guns.

A Claymore Mine

On the 22nd April 1974 at around 1150 hrs (11.50 am), the ambush party saw 5 Communist terrorists enter into the killing area. When two of the enemy were in the killing area 930376 Rgr Shaifudin fired two claymore mines and killed two of them instantly. At that instant two more claymores were fired by Lance Corporal Gaison which wounded the rest of the Communists. Without delaying 928104 Sergeant Harris reacted by racing towards the killing area with another section (10 men) with the intention of forming a cut off. He and his men attacked the remaining Enemy. They killed the Enemy who were taken by surprise. The Enemy never stood a chance, against the determined force of 7th Rangers men. This successful encounter totalled 5 Enemy KIAs.